People over the age of 55 with low vision or other visual impairments aren’t taking advantage of the many assistive apps available on their smart phones. This is largely due to a simple lack of awareness of visual assistive apps, new studies have shown.* 

Patients have access but little awareness

A review of low vision exam records from the UCLA Vision Rehabilitation Center found that only 6% of patients with low vision use visual assistive apps despite the fact that 90% of patients have smart phones.

Another article, published in Optometry and Vision Science, found that, of 259 patients with a wide range of visual impairments:

• 95% believed assistive apps are useful, and
• More than 90% thought they were accessible 

Ongoing clinical trial opportunity

In order to understand this discrepancy, researchers have been conducting a randomized clinical trial called Community Access through Remote EyeSight (CARE) using several free visual assistive apps, including three called:

• SuperVision+2 (for magnification),
• Seeing AI3 (a “talking camera” to narrate your surroundings), and 
• Aira (visual help from live agents).

Survey responses from 50 of the trial’s early participants (average age 73) indicated that lack of awareness of the apps (65%) and lack of training in how to use the apps (21%) were the most common reasons for the low usage. 

“For patients who will require training to learn to use a visual assistive app, primary care optometrists can play an important role in referring their patients to low vision rehabilitation providers who offer more extensive support and training for the apps,” the study authors wrote. “While apps are likely to be more intuitive for younger users, extensive training may be required for novice users who are visually impaired seniors that are motivated to learn them.”

The CARE clinical trial is expected to continue through September 2022. For information about participating in the study, you can contact either:

• Ava K. Bittner, OD, Ph.D. (UCLA Stein Eye Institute, Los Angeles, California) at 310-794-8583 | ABittner@mednet.ucla.edu, or 
• Nicole C. Ross, OD, MSc. (New England College of Optometry, Boston, Massachusetts) at 617-587-5626 | rossn@neco.edu. 

*Review of Optometry Staff. (2022, March 11). Many Seniors Miss Out on Assistive Apps for Low Vision. Review of Optometry. https://www.reviewofoptometry.com/article/many-seniors-miss-out-on-assistive-apps-for-low-vision